Police briefs: KSBW news van gets tangled with power line

A reporter and camera operator from KSBW were lucky to escape injury Saturday after the casting mast at the top of their van became entangled with a live power line as they were backing out of a parking spot, said Salinas fire Battalion Chief Brett Loomis.

The news crew forgot to lower the mast on the van before driving away, Loomis said, and the structure contacted an energized power line in the 100 block of East Acacia Street. The crew had just finished a report for the station's 6 p.m. newscast.

"There were two people in the van — a camera operator and a male reporter (Tom Miller) — and both were extraordinarily fortunate to escape without injury," Loomis said. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. "had a very rapid response to get the power shut down so they could disentangle the mast and make repairs."

News director Laughton Dodd said the camera operator, whom he declined to name, was at the wheel. He said the vans are equipped with an alarm that is designed to sound if the van goes into motion while the mast is extended, but the alarm malfunctioned.

Some residents in the area temporarily lost electrical power and cable television service, Loomis said.

3 arrested in robbery of pizza delivery man

A 20-year-old pizza delivery man was robbed at gunpoint at 9 p.m. Friday in Salinas by three people who got only a pizza for their efforts, police said. The three suspects were arrested early Saturday.

The delivery man was bringing pizza to a room at the Travel Inn, 425 Monterey St., that subsequently proved to be unrented. As he approached the location, he saw a man wearing a black hoodie approaching him.

The victim decided to return to his vehicle, but was cut off by another man who demanded money. That man pulled a handgun after being told by the victim that he had no money, and fled with the pizza after the victim showed that his pockets were empty.

About 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Angel Perez, 18, and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on weapons charges and were later identified as the robbery suspects, police said. A 17-year-old boy determined to be the getaway driver was also arrested.

All three face robbery, conspiracy, weapon and gang charges. Perez was booked into Monterey County Jail, and the teenagers were booked into juvenile hall.

Fight outside bar moves to police station

Two men were booked into Monterey County Jail on Friday after allegedly joining three fellow gang members in an assault on another man in a parking lot outside Jesse's Bar in Salinas.

Police were called to the bar at 231 Salinas St. shortly after 11 p.m. after receiving a report that a man was being assaulted by five people.

Police said they saw the victim standing over one of his assailants, 22-year-old Omar Munoz, who was unconscious. Humberto Garcia, 30, was standing nearby.

Officers determined the assailants had questioned the victim about his gang affiliation before knocking him to the ground and kicking him.

The victim got to his feet and ran toward the nearby Salinas Police Department, but stopped after rounding a corner and waited for Munoz, police said. He then punched Munoz, knocking him out, and was about to engage with Garcia when officers ordered the men to stop fighting.

Munoz and Garcia were arrested on battery, assault with a deadly weapon and gang charges. The victim is expected to recover from multiple injuries that required hospitalization.

Two found with meth, loaded gun in car

A man and woman were arrested Friday after they were found in a car with an open container of alcohol, methamphetamine, marijuana and a loaded handgun, Salinas police said.

Police arrested Andres Rodriguez, 29, a known gang member, and Jacky Garza, 47, who were sitting in the car in a parking lot at 2176 N. Main St.

Rodriguez had an open container of alcohol in plain view, and had methamphetamine in his possession, police said. Officers said they also found evidence of drug sales.

Garza had a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun in her waistband and marijuana in her possession, police said.